Fred comes home

Margaret got Fred moved back home at noon today. I fixed up Gertrud's old room to be a tv room for him. I also installed a gate so that he is confined to the second floor and cannot reach the stairs. There was a dinner party so he had a great evening with everyone around. With one night in the hospital and two at Elmview, I think he is extremely tired. 

Brush trouble

 

Painting today. My favorite brush seemed frayed so I looked through my kit for something similar. Surprisingly, I found not only "similar" but IDENTICAL. I must have known this day was coming as there was a second brush of the exact brand and size but the bristles don't look anything alike. 

Esperanza's film shoot

William and I acted in a 16mm film for Experanza today. I was death and naturally William was god. Ron Jacobs shot it. 
 

A day in Elmview

I sat in the common room with Fred today, listening to the door alarm go off constantly (realized only later that it was because a patient stood by it wanting to leave). The physio-therapist arrived and did an assessment about Fred. Says he currently needs two people on hand if he is going to walk anywhere. Found out later that the reason almost no one was in the common room was that there is a covid outbreak in the building. I wasn't informed. Margaret wants to take him home but is resigned to making his stay another day. She has now got him booked into a nursing home but that won't start for another eight days. He seems to think that this is just a variant on the exercise program he goes to and that Margaret is going to take him home. He is very upset when told this isn't so. 
 

Fred in Elmview

 They moved Fred from the hospital to Elmview, which is a short term "quick response" care facility. The people generally seemed really nice but the whole establishment is stressing Fred out even more. There are people in distress and occasionally yelling. There are lights and noises and an complete lack of privacy. It is fine for what it is, but...

Fred leaves his home

Earlier today he came downstairs and then, trying to get to his chair, had a fall. I came over and a group of us got him to his chair (after Margaret consulted with the paramedics on the phone). He's still weak and having very difficult time standing and walking. Margaret didn't really want him to have to leave the house with the level of cold outside (-39). The ambulances were backed up for hours but they finally came and took him to emergency and admitted him to do tests. At home he was enjoying gnomes. At the hospital, he is very distressed and enjoying nothing. 

 

Family day

Where we left off. 
 

Fred weakened

 Two days ago, Fred suddenly had a significant drop in strength. Today I sat with him for the afternoon. He said he had no appetite but consumed all the food I brought very ravenously. I was there to meet the parametric who came and did a lot of tests (not the first since two days ago) as well as take some blood. Nothing really wrong as far as the tests can show. 

Dance class

 William's car is in the shop. He is going to do a bird people project with NDH and Robyn has suggested he take the dance class they are doing with body and objects this weekend. I dropped him off. Later, since we were out and about in this super cold day anyway, we ran around and picked up some comfort foods including Chinese pastries. Later I painted the camera I got from Geremy yesterday. 

Coffee and a camera

Another quick coffee session with Geremy. Lent me his new little Polaroid. Here is the photo he took with it (no flash - I assume it would be better with a flash). 
 

Water Main break on Motherwell

 Water main broke in front of Margaret's dad's house. City has been there but left a lake of water and the grate off the storm drain at the base of their driveway. 

Coffee with mom and with Kevin

 Ragingly cold again today. Mom wanted to have coffee without going out, so I came over. Busy afternoon at work, but then headed out again for coffee with Kevin. I was almost early, but caught the train. 

Geremy on radio

Jeff fell through as the opening of William's season four. Fortunately, Geremy came through. I bribed him with chocolate cake. 

Cat gone mad

 Even though it is about -30, the cat went out (for about 20 seconds). 

Dunlop opening

Fought way through severe cold again to attend north Dunlop opening "Of A Place" today, works from the collection. Caught up with Kevin McKenzie, in from Brandon. 
 

Another camera

 Used the new carbon black instead of paynes grey today on this painting. 

Preparing for work... for next week

 William modifying an art kit to take to work when his real teaching begins next week. 

No work, black dogging

 

Terrible storm today, and really cold. William's car is acting up so I drove him to the first day of his new job. Traffic was horrible and slow and we were 10 minutes late just to discover that the place was closed. There was a miscommunication. We popped into Black Dog and bought a few things (carbon black paint for me, paper for William) then to Cafe Francois for deserts. Met back home and shared some delicious cakes with Margaret for our anniversary. 

Potted plant painting

I never thought I'd ever admit to painting a potted plant. Noelle lent me this one. It's container is a ceramic camera. 
 

Coffee with Geremy

Very short coffee session with Geremy. Talked mostly about William's new job that he's not really worked at (for pay) yet. 
 

William to work

William drove off for his first day of work. Not paid work, yet, but a test teaching session for kids at a play center that is expanding into more lessons. 

Painting old video

 Painted a version of this old studio video camera given to me from Ian Rogers. I don't like painting things small. I'd rather enlarge small cameras than reduce large cameras. Decided since this is mine now, I'd just do a few versions. 

Setting up book station

 Not quite ready for book binding yet, but most of the pieces are in place. Still need to wiggle things around. 

Fred and the seal

Visiting Fred today. William wanted to see the family seal, unearth after all these years.